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Coast Guard rescue mariner from waves near Columbia River

Coast Guard rescue mariner from waves near Columbia River
Archive image: Coast Guard crews at Air Station Astoria, Ore., during maintenance works on an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter in the station’s hangar.
Coast Guard Air Station Astoria is home to three Jayhawk helicopters and is co-located with Sector Columbia River based at the Warrenton-Astoria Regional Airport in Warrenton, Ore.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley.

Astoria, Oregon. Friday, Feb. 3, 2023  –  The Coast Guard rescue a mariner in distress for the waves approximately 6 miles west of the Columbia River mouth Friday, Feb. 3. Multiple units responded and saved the mariner as the disabled 35-foot vessel Sand Piper was capsized by a breaking wave.

At 10 a.m., Sector Columbia River watchstanders received an audible MAYDAY call via VHF marine-band radio channel 16. No further information was provided in the radio transmission. An approximate position of the distress call origin was determined using radio tower triangulation.

A Station Cape Disappointment boatcrew aboard a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and an MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School launched from Station Cape Disappointment. Multiple crews of the National Motor Lifeboat School who were conducting training in the area also diverted to respond. Coast Guard crews were on scene at approximately 10:40 a.m.

On scene personnel communicated with the distressed mariner and learned that the vessel was taking on water. On scene conditions were reported to be 20-foot seas and extremely high windspeeds.

Coast Guard crews conduct multi-unit response to rescue a mariner in distress from the waves after a wave capsizes their 32-foot disabled motor vessel Sand Piper near Astoria, OR, Friday, Feb. 3.
An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew of the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School and multiple 47-foot motor lifeboats of the National Motor Lifeboat School and U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Clark.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest.
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Department of Homeland Security.

The rescue swimmer, a student of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS), was deployed to the water using a winch cable before swimming toward the vessel. As the rescue swimmer made his approach, a breaking wave capsized the vessel. The mariner was ejected from the vessel as a result and suffered minor injuries.

The rescue swimmer proceeded to retrieve the mariner from the water and both were hoisted to the MH-60 Jayhawk MRR helicopter using a winch cable.

The survivor was transported to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at Air Station Astoria and was in stable condition when transferred from the Coast Guard’s care.

After the mariner was released to the care of emergency medical personnel, local authorities notified the Coast Guard that the individual is suspected to have stolen the vessel. Astoria Police Department is leading that investigation.

As a rescue swimmer, this was Aviation Survival Technician 3rd Class John «Branch» Walton’s first life saved. Hours later, he and his classmates graduated from the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School.

USCG

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